Methane itself is actually a colorless and odorless gas, so pure methane from a farm waste lagoon does not have a smell. However, the gas produced in waste lagoons, called biogas, contains other gases like hydrogen sulfide and ammonia that do have strong, unpleasant odors.
These are the gases often responsible for the bad smells commonly associated with manure and waste lagoons. The odor can be strong near the lagoon, especially if the waste is not well managed. Methane capture systems can help reduce these smells by containing the gases and preventing them from escaping into the air.
